Sunday's letters: Take a stand

Published: Sunday, June 15, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 13, 2014 at 3:04 p.m.

To the editor: Our generation is fast becoming known as one that plundered our natural resources for quick gain, and our grandchildren will pay the price.

Fracking is the latest plunder. Little is known about the long-term effects of fracking. When will the chemically treated wastewater in the underground wells begin to pollute the water tables, and how will we know?

Also, earthquakes have occurred in areas of Texas where fracking is underway. No earthquake activity of the frequency now being felt had previously been reported.

Bringing that subject closer to home, North Carolina proposes to test areas in Western North Carolina to determine if fracking is feasible. At least one earthquake fault known as the Brevard Fault lies in WNC. Would fracking cause that fault to move, causing damage on the surface?

No one knows.

What is needed, but sorely lacking, are Republican leaders who will take a stand and stop this effort to generate quick profits with little thought about the long-range effects. That burden will be borne by our grandchildren and others not yet born.

Stephen F. Franks

Hendersonville

Build the pipeline

To the editor: Our president is blocking the building of the XL Keystone Pipeline. However, if this pipeline were built, thousands of jobs would be created, which would immensely help our economy, lower our energy cost and nearly make America energy independent for the next 40 years. Our president would prefer to drain America’s resources and spend our money in the Middle East.

But currently crude oil is transported by train, and there have been accidents, including a train derailment in Quebec, Canada, where a tank car train derailed, exploded into huge fireballs and burned several blocks in the town center, incinerating 30 buildings and killing 47 people, most in their beds. Also, there was a derailment in South Dakota, causing a fireball like a nuclear bomb! No crew were injured, but the town was evacuated until the fire burned out.

It has been proven for the past 50 years that the pipeline concept would move far more crude much more safely than trains can. The pipeline would carry the oil unrestrained and without interruption or incident to Gulf Coast refineries. We need to vote for candidates focused on building the pipeline!

Arthur Raynolds

Lake Toxaway

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

To the editor: Reading the illogic of some Barack Obama supporters is simply distressing. No one has suggested that Bowe Bergdahl should have been “left behind.” No one has suggested violating the traditional aim of the armed forces — bringing home everyone at the end of hostilities.

Mr. President, you may think the “war” is over, but the Taliban and others do not. The five released leaders will be available to strike back at Americans no matter where we are. You have failed miserably.

I am a conservative, a former Vietnam company commander and a retired military intelligence officer. Being in a combat situation is trying, even to those of us who were not in combat.

But even in the Vietnam action, no one suggested trading prisoners before the end of hostilities in 1975. Why should the president get credit for allowing the return to action of five extremely important Taliban leaders?

The concern of any thinking American is the price that was paid and the timing of the exchange. Hostilities are still ongoing — witness Faluja and Baghdad now. The president had five years to arrange the exchange for Bergdahl, and yet we find the sudden rush and emergency to get him back now.

<p>To the editor: Our generation is fast becoming known as one that plundered our natural resources for quick gain, and our grandchildren will pay the price.</p><p>Fracking is the latest plunder. Little is known about the long-term effects of fracking. When will the chemically treated wastewater in the underground wells begin to pollute the water tables, and how will we know?</p><p>Also, earthquakes have occurred in areas of Texas where fracking is underway. No earthquake activity of the frequency now being felt had previously been reported.</p><p>Bringing that subject closer to home, North Carolina proposes to test areas in Western North Carolina to determine if fracking is feasible. At least one earthquake fault known as the Brevard Fault lies in WNC. Would fracking cause that fault to move, causing damage on the surface?</p><p>No one knows.</p><p>What is needed, but sorely lacking, are Republican leaders who will take a stand and stop this effort to generate quick profits with little thought about the long-range effects. That burden will be borne by our grandchildren and others not yet born.</p><p><em>Stephen F. Franks</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Build the pipeline</h3>
<p>To the editor: Our president is blocking the building of the XL Keystone Pipeline. However, if this pipeline were built, thousands of jobs would be created, which would immensely help our economy, lower our energy cost and nearly make America energy independent for the next 40 years. Our president would prefer to drain America's resources and spend our money in the Middle East.</p><p>But currently crude oil is transported by train, and there have been accidents, including a train derailment in Quebec, Canada, where a tank car train derailed, exploded into huge fireballs and burned several blocks in the town center, incinerating 30 buildings and killing 47 people, most in their beds. Also, there was a derailment in South Dakota, causing a fireball like a nuclear bomb! No crew were injured, but the town was evacuated until the fire burned out.</p><p>It has been proven for the past 50 years that the pipeline concept would move far more crude much more safely than trains can. The pipeline would carry the oil unrestrained and without interruption or incident to Gulf Coast refineries. We need to vote for candidates focused on building the pipeline!</p><p><em>Arthur Raynolds</em></p><p><em>Lake Toxaway</em></p><h3>Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl</h3>
<p>To the editor: Reading the illogic of some Barack Obama supporters is simply distressing. No one has suggested that Bowe Bergdahl should have been “left behind.” No one has suggested violating the traditional aim of the armed forces — bringing home everyone at the end of hostilities.</p><p>Mr. President, you may think the “war” is over, but the Taliban and others do not. The five released leaders will be available to strike back at Americans no matter where we are. You have failed miserably.</p><p>I am a conservative, a former Vietnam company commander and a retired military intelligence officer. Being in a combat situation is trying, even to those of us who were not in combat.</p><p>But even in the Vietnam action, no one suggested trading prisoners before the end of hostilities in 1975. Why should the president get credit for allowing the return to action of five extremely important Taliban leaders?</p><p>The concern of any thinking American is the price that was paid and the timing of the exchange. Hostilities are still ongoing — witness Faluja and Baghdad now. The president had five years to arrange the exchange for Bergdahl, and yet we find the sudden rush and emergency to get him back now.</p><p><em>Bob Stevens</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><p><em></em></p>